Host-sponsored data transmission billing system and method

ABSTRACT

A host-sponsored data transmission billing system and method is provided to permit reduced costs to a mobile user for internet access through an internet gateway. An operator billing system is provided (either in the internet gateway itself or coupled to the internet gateway) to generate billing data for payment by the mobile user for connection requests by the mobile user through the internet gateway to private sites on the internet. However, to reduce the costs to the mobile user to encourage access to host-sponsored commercial sites, the operator billing system bills data for payment by host-sponsors for connection requests by the mobile user to the host-sponsored sites. A General Packet Radio System (GPRS) can be utilized in this arrangement as the internet gateway.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/455,250, filed Dec. 6,1999 which application is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications/mobilephones, and more specifically to an improved system and method formobile internet access and billing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, substantial development has occurred in systems and methodsfor mobile internet access. In particular, increased data transmissionrates have been brought about by the Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM) evolution with systems such as General Packet RadioSystem (GPRS) and Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution (EDGE). TheGPRS and EDGE systems allow for higher bit rates in wireless accessenabling mobile internet. In short, the technology has now beendeveloped to make mobile internet access readily available.

Unfortunately, an emerging problem has developed with regard to thequestion of who will pay for the wireless data traffic in a telecomoperator's cellular network for such mobile internet access. In general,customers are accustomed to low price or free internet access. On theother hand, current systems which permit mobile internet access chargethe customer for wireless access to the same internet sites which theycould access either for free or at a much lower cost if they were notusing mobile access. Therefore, it has become a serious concern thatusers will view mobile internet access as too expensive for casual webbrowsing. This could seriously stunt the development of mobile internetaccess. On the other hand, E-commerce via mobile internet access couldbe significantly enhanced if free or low cost access could be providedto catalogs and marketing materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved billingsystem and method for mobile internet access.

To achieve this and other objects, the present invention provides ahost-sponsored data transmission billing system and method for mobileusers. An internet gateway is provided to establish wireless connectionbetween a mobile user and the internet. The internet gateway generatesbilling data for payment by the mobile user for connection requests bythe mobile user through the internet gateway to private sites on theinternet. On the other hand, the internet gateway also generates billingdata for payment by host-sponsors for connection requests by the mobileuser to host-sponsored sites on the internet. In other words, some orall of the data traffic billing that is incurred in accessing ahost-sponsored site is incurred by the host that operates the site inquestion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall view of a host-sponsoreddata transmission billing system in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present inventionusing a GPRS network and a charging gateway connecting to an externalbilling system for a host-sponsored data transmission billing system inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a log file tracing process to implement ahost-sponsored data transmission billing system in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 provides an overall view of a host-sponsored data transmissionbilling system in accordance with the present invention. In particular,FIG. 1 shows an arrangement using a GPRS network 10 and a GPRS operatorbilling system 12 to permit connection of a mobile user 14 to theinternet 16. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile user can be connected viathe GPRS network 10, the GPRS operator billing system 12 and theinternet 16 to either a host-sponsored commercial website 18 or aprivate website 20. The commercial website 18 offers free datatransmission (or at least reduced cost transmission) to customers whenit is accessed by a mobile user. In accordance with the presentinvention, the GPRS operator billing system 12 will directly bill thecommercial website 18 (or the company sponsoring the commercial website18) for the access and data transmission of the mobile user 14.

When the mobile user 14 accesses the private site 20, on the other hand,the GPRS operator billing system 12 will bill the mobile user 14directly. As such, the GPRS operator billing system 12 will generate twotypes of invoices, one directly to the mobile user 14 and the other tothe commercial websites 18 or companies sponsoring the commercialwebsites 18.

It is noted at this point that packet switched radio connections such asGPRS permit for billing per use or billing per amount of datatransmitted via the radio network while the connection may remain opencontinuously. In accordance with the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, theGPRS billing system 12 is designed in such a manner that the billingincurred will be earmarked according to whether it belongs to thehost-sponsor or to the consumer. Invoices are generated accordingly. Itis envisioned that this will substantially increase the mobile access tocommercial sites since customers will enjoy the same low cost or freeaccess when they use mobile internet access that they obtain usingconventional telephone internet access.

FIG. 2 provides a more detailed illustration of a host-sponsored datatransmission billing system using a GPRS network 10 in conjunction withan operator billing system 22 which is external to the GPRS network 10.In order to provide a single access point from the GPRS network 10 tothe external operator billing system 22, a charging gateway 24 isprovided. For example, this can be the currently available stand aloneNokia charging gateway, specifically modified for operation withexternal billing systems to generate separate invoices to mobile usersand host-sponsors in accordance with the present invention.

In order to interface between the GPRS network 10 and the internet, aGateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) 26 is provided. A security firewall 28can also be located between the GGSN 26 and the internet. On the otherhand, a Service GPRS Support Node (SGSN) 30 can be provided between theGPRS network 10 and a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 32, and a BaseStation Controller (BSC) 34. A GPRS terminal 36 is coupled to the BTS32. The BCS 34 is coupled to a Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC)38. The MSC 38 is, in turn, coupled to a Public Switching TelephoneNetwork (PSTN) network 40. It is noted that these elements form part ofthe overall network structure already manufactured by Nokia as part ofthe GPRS core solution.

Other elements of the Nokia GPRS network include a data network 42 whichcan be coupled to the GGSN 26 by way of a firewall 44. This arrangementis typically used in conjunction with a router 46 for coupling to acorporate LAN 48.

In accordance with the present invention, the standard Nokia GPRSstructure noted above is modified in accordance with the presentinvention to generate separate billing for user access to private sitesand host-sponsored sites. FIG. 2 shows operations carried out by thebilling system 22 in order to generate separate invoices for the mobileuser and the host-sponsor. As a first step 50, it is determined whetherthe access is non-price differentiated. If so, the present invention isnot utilized. On the other hand, if step 52 determines that the accessis price differentiated, the next step is to determine whether it is afree, host-sponsored access (step 54) or a cost incurring access for themobile user (step 56). If it is determined in step 54 that the access isa free host-sponsored access, an invoice is generated to thehost-sponsor (step 58). On the other hand, if it is determined in step56 that the access is a cost incurring one for the mobile user, aninvoice is generated to the mobile user (step 60).

FIG. 3 shows a log file tracing process which can be used to carry outthe steps 54, 56, 58 and 60. In this process, a database 62 is providedof IP addresses for host-sponsored sites. In step 64, log file tracingof client (mobile user) accessed IP addresses is carried out. In thecomparison step 66, a “seeking match” process is carried out todetermine whether the IP addresses accessed by the client during the logfile tracing operation are the same as any IP addresses stored in thedatabase 62 of host-sponsored sites.

If a match is determined in step 68, this means that the client accessedIP address in question is to a host-sponsored site. In this case,charges are incurred to the sponsoring host (step 70). Accordingly, instep 72, an invoice is generated to the host-sponsor.

On the other hand, if no match is found between the client accessed IPaddress and the database 62 (as per step 74), the charging and billingis carried out in a traditional manner in step 76. In this case, aninvoice is generated to the customer (step 78) in the conventionalmanner.

The above description assumes that the host-sponsor has agreed to coverthe entire costs for mobile users to access their host-sponsored sites.However, in accordance with the present invention, the host-sponsorcould agree to cover only part of the charge. In addition, differentlevels of sponsorship and sponsorship agreements could be provided.Thus, FIG. 3 also shows a database of the level of sponsorship andsponsorship agreements (database 80). This information is taken intoaccount in step 70 to adjust the invoice to the host-sponsor accordinglyin step 72. Of course, in this case, the remaining charges would becharged to the mobile user through steps 76 and 78.

As one example of an alternative to completely free access, thehost-sponsor might agree to provide a certain amount of access (in otherwords, providing a limited number of bits). For example, one megabit offree access could be provided. In this case, the billing system 22 wouldcontain a record of the number of used bits and the available bitsremaining to be used by the mobile user.

Another possibility for less than complete sponsorship would be freeaccess to predetermined pages of the website. Alternatively, when themobile user buys something, a billing system 22 can provide a certainamount of free time or bits to be added to the presently availablenumber of bits for the user. The amount of free time or bits could bemade dependent upon the items or services purchased. For example,purchasing from a particular website page could generate bonus points.

In the event that less than complete sponsorship is provided, the step54 in FIG. 2 will provide the user terminal ID number, the number ofused bits to date (so that a determination can be made of availablebits), and any purchase information which might reflect in an increaseof the total number of available bits.

By virtue of the arrangements discussed above for implementing thepresent invention, access to commercial host-sponsored websites will bemuch more attractive to mobile users since they will be free to browseand download from such websites either for free or at substantiallyreduced costs. As such, the present invention removes, or at leastreduces, the cost impediments presently faced in mobile internet access.

While the present invention has been described in detail and pictoriallyin the accompanying drawings, it is not limited to such details sincemany changes and modifications recognizable to those of ordinary skillin the art may be made to the invention without departing from thespirit and the scope thereof.

1. A network entity for billing for Internet connections between amobile terminal user and an Internet site, comprising: a databasestoring a list of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for host-sponsoredsites; a log file tracer to provide an output indicative of the IPaddresses accessed by the mobile terminal user; and a comparator forcomparing the output of the log file tracer with the IP addresses storedin the database for determining whether the IP addresses accessed by themobile terminal user includes host-sponsored sites.
 2. The networkentity of claim 1, comprising: means for generating billing data forpayment by a host-sponsor of said site for connecting the mobileterminal user with said site when the determination indicates that an IPaddress accessed by the mobile terminal users is a host-sponsored site.3. The network entity of claim 1, comprising: means for generatingbilling data for payment by the mobile terminal user for connecting withsaid site when the determination indicates that an IP address accessedby the mobile terminal users is a private site.
 4. The network entity ofclaim 1, comprising: a cellular telecommunications interface forproviding wireless connection with the mobile terminal users; and anetwork interface connecting with the Internet.
 5. In a systemcomprising at least one mobile device operated by at least one userwhich is wirelessly coupled to a billing system operated by a wirelessoperator providing connectivity to a packet data network including atleast one host operated server offering data transmission to the atleast one user when accessed by a user of the at least one mobiledevice, a method comprising: the at least one user requestingconnectivity to a server coupled to the packet data network; determiningif the at least one user requested connectivity is to at least one ofthe at least one host operated server; and in response to the requestedconnectivity being determined to be to at least one of the at least onehost operated server which has not agreed to accept full chargesassigned by the billing system to the user for connectivity to the atleast one host operated server, the at least one host operated server towhich connectivity is requested by the at least one user provides the atleast one user with free access to only a portion of the data which maybe provided by the at least one host operated server to whichconnectivity is requested upon request from the users.
 6. A method inaccordance with claim 5 wherein: the free access is to predeterminedpages of a website operated by the at least one host operated server towhich connectivity is requested.
 7. A method in accordance with claim 5wherein: the free access is provided upon the purchase by the at leastone user of items or services.
 8. A method in accordance with claim 6wherein: the free access is provided upon the purchase by the at leastone user of items or services.
 9. A method in accordance with claim 5wherein: the free access is a specified amount of free time or aspecified amount of free data provided from the at least one hostoperated server to the at least one user.
 10. A method in accordancewith claim 6 wherein: the free access is a specified amount of free timeor a specified amount of free data provided from the at least one hostoperated server to the at least one user.
 11. A method in accordancewith claim 7 wherein: the free access is a specified amount of free timeor a specified amount of free data provided from the at least one hostoperated server to the at least one user.
 12. A method in accordancewith claim 8 wherein: the free access is a specified amount of free timeor a specified amount of free data provided from the at least one hostoperated server to the at least one user.